THE PUBLICATION OF WOLFGANG LEONHARD'S 'CHILD OF THE REVOLUTION' IS A STARTLING REVELATION OF HOW TWO DECADES OF STALINISTS WERE TRAINED IN TWISTING, LYING ALTD FALSIFYING IN PREPARATION FOR THE WHOLESALE PROS­TITUTION OF TIffilR INTELLECTS TO THE GREATER GLORY OF THE SOVIET BUREAU­CRACY.

The book'is an account of the writer's fantastic experiences in the iron-clisciplined. Russian Comintern school which was the training ground for the cream of the European Communist intelli­gentsia, who were later to play their part in bringing Eastern Europe under Stalinist control.Wolfgang Leonhard himself was

with the first group under Herr Ulbricht which entered East Ger­many in the baggage trains of the Soviet armies.

His doubts about the intel­lectual honesty and integrity of fellow-Stalinists in East Germany came to the surface at the time of the dispute between Stalin and Tito over the question of Yugosla­via's existence as an independent Socialist state outside the Soviet bloc.

Leonhard* who had as a result of this dispute become a firm be­liever in an independent road to German Socialism, came under sus- pioion as a Titoist and was for­ced to flee from East'Germany. He escaped to Yugoslavia, the country which to him seemed to be the best example of a Socialist state.

PERVERTED SOCIALISTSThe merit of Leonhard's 'Child

of the Revolution' is that, it fully exposes the type of mind and the methods which assisted in breeding perverted Socialists.

One such striking example of the Stalinist type chosen as in­structors at the Comintern school was, Paul Wandel alias Klasner. Described as a man of high intel­ligence with an exceptionally wide knowledge of Marxism-Lenism, the history of the Comintern and the German Communist Party and Ger­man history and philosophy, Klas­ner ohose to use all this know­ledge for the purpose of justify­ing the Party line. According to the writer, Klasner was extremely clever at adjusting his opinion to any changes in the Communist Party line and "was capable with crytal-clear logic of defending the exact opposite of what he said the day before".

His brain, whioh had long ceased doing any real thinking, merely sought to justify the in­tellectual and political zig­zagging of the Soviet bureaucra­cy.

The minds of students at the Comintern school were straight- jacketed to the extent that origi­nal writings of all Communist oppo­sition groups both in Germany and in Russia were not permitted to be read. These writings were never seen but cyclostyled copies of crit­icisms of such works were circula­ted for study.

TRAINING CYNICSAll books and manifestos by

anti-Stalinist organisations which criticised and attaoked the Soviet Union from a Marxist point of view were banned. The works of Leon Trotsky (leader of the Left opposi­tion in Russia), whioh carried the sharpest attacks on Stalinism came in for particularly abusive denun­ciations by Klasner and the other instructors.

It is therefore not surprising that such a system of training pro­duced two decades of cynics who had thoroughly learnt the art of switch­ing over from one lino to another iat the crack of the whip of their Stalinist bosses in the Kremlin.This was the training that shaped the minds of the Kadars, Rakosis, and Geroes and similar criminal types and place-seekers who, not so long ago in Hungary, tried to just­ify murder, torture, wholesale exe­cutions, frame-ups, faked trials — all in the so-called defence of Socialism.

REVOLT AGAINST STALINISMThe heroic stand of Hungarian

Socialists against the perverted brand of Socialism of the Stalinist school; Professor Harich's rebellion against the iron-control of the East German Stalinists^ the Polish stu­dents strong protest against the closing of their newspaper PRO POTSU— all these are manifestations of the intellectual revolt against Star- linism and an indioation of the move­ment towards independent, democratic Socialist parties in Eastern Europe,

As for Wolfgang Leonhard himself, if he is to remain at all faithful|(Cont. at bot. of Page 116.)

FROM 1948 TO 1958 "SOVIET JEWS HAVE SUFFERED EXPERIENCES RANGING FROM TEE NAKED TERROR OF STALINISM TO THE SUSPICION AND DISCRIMINATION WHICH THEY HAVE TO ENDURE TO THIS DAY," STATES A LETTER FROM THE WORLD JEW­ISH CONGRESS WHICH APPEARED IN A RECENT ISSUE OF'THE NEW STATESMAN'.

"Jews suffer discrimination in employment and eduoation and are closely watohed for any signs of ‘Jewish nationalism' for which they can be severely punished," says the letter.

NO BOOKS OR NEWSPAPERSIt also accuses the Soviet

rulers of trying to kill Yiddish culture. "Not a single Yiddish book has been published in the Soviet Union since 1948, and there is no functioning Yiddish press" (except for one miserable newssheet).

"In a country in which every nationality — inoluding the gyp­sies — is enoouraged to have its own representative theatre, the Yiddish theatre is silenced al­though there :‘?,9 -'“a three mil­lion Jews in the Soviet Union," continues the letter.ANTI-JEWISH FUELING

The letter recalls how the reign of terror against the Jews was started by Stalin after the DjyETiHEaui assrdar a? the fanous Sovie t Yiddish actor-produoer Mikhoels in January 1940* His death is said to have provided the sig­nal for Stalin's all-out attack on the Jews and against Yiddish culture j

"Within a matter of months every single Yiddish writer of note to­gether with thousands of the so- called Yiddish 'cultural workers', was arrested"."DOCTORS' PLOT"

Although Mikhoels was honoured and highly praised at a State fune­ral, it was not long before his name became connected with Stalin's cooked-up notorious "Doctors' Plot" The letter states that in the Rus­sian newspaper PRAVDA of 15th Janu­ary, 19551 he was described as "'the well-known nationalist bourgeois Jew Milchaels' who together with the Moscow doctor Shimliavitch, was 'given the directive to destroy the top cadres of the Soviet Union'."

After Stalin's death Mikhoels good name was restored to its form­er place of honour. But in spite of this the present rulers of the Soviet Union have in fact taken no steps to "reinstate Yiddish culture and so make amends for the crimes of Stalin."

VOL.5 - NO.5 4. 5.1958

SCHOOL FOR SmiN/3/n■fcto liia Intellectual convictions, Tito's brand of Stalinism (which recently laun­ched suoh a savage attack on one of its critios, Djilas) will certainly not hold him for long. Like all honest Socialists in Eastern'Europe and elsewhere he will have to re-examine his intellectual position,

VOL,5 - N0.1 15. 1.1958

Ideas are like seeds. After years of lying dormant they may suddenly spread with lightning rapidity.

_____Gaetana Salvemini.* * * * * * * * * * * *

^RfSSURC FRCffl BFLQUJ U M JS O f R izm .3 FORCED■— ' ' e c a v a n i s T

ACCORDING- TO A REEBNT ARTICLE — "LACK TO TROTSKY" — III THE ’ECONOMIST1 THE CHANGES IN RUSSIA SINCE STALIN* S DEATH ARE NOT TIE RESULT OP 'ANY WESTERN IDEALS OR DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS"BUT ARE MEANT TO STRENGHTEN "THE COMMUNIST REGIME".

The article observes that overdependence on slave labour in Russia had become a drawback eco­nomically and politically. So had "overdepend­ence on police terror and on clumsy censorship",

Thus some of the political methods develop­ed under Stalin were softened down because they had either been found unnecessary or had become a drawback for the Russian system.

RAPID IMPROVEMENTOne of the reasons why Malenkov was dismiss­

ed was because he favoured the production of more consumer goods — clothes, foodstuffs, footwear etc, and less concentration on heavy industry — machines, armaments etc. Today, however, his line has become party policy and has brought about a rapid improvement.in living standards.

EQUALITY — "AWKWARD QUESTION"According to the ECONOMIST the "awkward quest­

ion" of equality in a socialist society is being raised by Soviet writers. This new spirit it feels will make it'impossible to force writers to toe the party line — to"make them write only what the ru­lers approve of — as is still being done now.

"UA.INSPRING OF CHANGE"The "mainspring of change" is the new genera­

tion of "better educated" men and women required to carry out the "technological revolution". This ra­pidly growing eduoated class is the "chief earnest of further change". The ECONOMIST observes that the "political methods of the Scythians are not suited to the- age of sputnik". The "hand of the ruler is being forced" all the time by the restless stirrings of the people.

THE SATELLITE STATESIt points out also that the relaxation in

policy towards satellite states "conforms to the new pattern of reform for the sake of greater effi­ciency", It observes, however, that attempts "to relax control within the Soviet bloc" has been treated as signals for revolt. Relaxation has been . "accompanied by a series of explosions from the Berlin risings (1953) to the Polish mutiny and the Hungarian insurrection (1956). "But it is admitted, however, that it is enough to glance at Poland to realise that Eastern Europe is not what it was in Stalin’s time,"

VOL.3 - NO.5 12. 5.1958

THERE IS GROv/ING ALAPJI AT THE INCREASE IN SERIOUS CRIME I1T SOUTH AF­RICA. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE INCREASE IS TIE RESULT OP THE SOCIAL FRUS­TRATION AND POVERTY CAUSED BY APARTHEID. TIEE INCREASE HAS BEEN DE­SCRIBED AS "EPIDEMIC".

LASHES USELESSAocording to Nationalist Minister of Justice Swart, 230,000 cases

of serious crime was reported in 1957 — increase of almost 48>000 oyer 1956. 57>000 cases were unsolved.

Flogging has done nothing to decrease the ever growing increase in crime. In 1951j 4j783 persons received 28,152 lashes which rose to 15,884 receiving’ 73,718 lashes in 1955 and the figures have risen still higher since then. In desperationMinister Swart has put a Hanging and Deportation Dill before Parliament!

Among democrats flogging, hanging and deportation is opposed. The solution is seen to be the complete overthrow of apartheid to make possible the elimination of poverty and social frustration which is driving growing numbers of the people — especially the most rebelli­ous of our youth — to crime.

It is considered that the rapid increase in crime is insoluble under apartheid no natter how more harsh and barbaric the measures taken against criminals may become.

HOPELESS TASKEven though the oost of policing the country has risen from

£7 >750,000 in 1940 ‘to £1 2,530,000 in 1955 this has done nothing to stem the increase in crime.

Many polioemen consider their task hopeless. In 1955 despite in­creases in pay and improved service conditions 1,067 bought their dis­charge from the polioe force. Also, despite great leniency shown and the apparent unwillingness with which the Attorney-General prosecutes policemen, more than 160 during the same period had to be dismissed from the force for various criminal offences.

THE SOLUTION ?Democrats considered it significant that during the Rand bus boy­

cott, there was a noticeable drop in crime. They are convinced that if the democratic movement consistently took up all the problems of the people to establish a truly democratic and prosperous South Afri­can nation, the problem of crime would rapidly disappear,

A social worker agreed that if the nation's youth were caught up in a movement for democracy and freedom, the problem of tsitsis, duck- tails and skollies would be largely solved,

"Widespread delinquency is the unconscious rebellion of the youth against the rotten conditions of our society,"

VOL.3 - NO.3 4. 3.1958

othing has been left undone by the enemies of freedom. Every art and artifice, every cruelty and outrage, has been practiced and perpetrated to destroy the rights of man.

In this great struggle every crime has been rewarded and every virtue punished.

Reading, writing, thinking and investigating have all been made crimes.

R»G. Ingersoll************-x-:;-:;-: i-*

BY _ OUR SPECIAL "CORRESPONDENTIN SOUTH AFRICA THE APARTHEID MUNICIPAL, PROVINCIAL ALL­STATE "NATIVE" REGULATIONS DAILY MAKE CRIMINALS OF THOU­SANDS OF SOUTH AFRICA'S CITIZENS. THE LIVES OF NINE- TENTHS OF OUR POPULATION ARE MADE A LIVING HELL UNDER A MASS OF VICIOUSLY INHUMAN REGULATIONS AND LAWS.

"HUHTED DOWN" LIKE DOGSUnder the "registration and Production of Documents

by Natives Act" and the Pass Laws, the people are hunted down by the police in a way that unlicensed dogs have never experienced.

And the treatment handed out to the mass of South'African humanity under the Curfew Regulations and Loca­tions, Mission Station and Native Reserve Rules and Re­gulations would oall forth protest if meted out to cattle.

But this is not all, such laws as the Taxation and Development Act further rob a people tormented beyond hu­man endurance and already bled white by the most extreme poverty, oppression and super-exploitation.

Between 1940 and 1955 prosecutions under the Urban Areas Act increased by 15,000, under the location regu­lations by 50,000 f under the regulations relating to documents (passes etc.) by another 50,000 , under the taxation regulations by 40,000 and under the curfew regulations by 55,000.

The 15otal number of prosecutions for the year 1949 for such "statutory offences" amounted to over 500,000 and increased to over 500,000 in 1957 li

VOL.5 - NO.2 10. 2.1958

THE SOUTH AFRICAN LABOUR MOVEMENT14 12 I I I

XR.C1. T.c. acrTHE 3RD ANNUAL SECRETARY'S REPORT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN" CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS GIVES ITS ATTITUDE TO "THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE" OF BOYCOTTING THE INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION ACT. THIS STAND UAS TAKEN AT A SPECIAL CONFERENCE HELD IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

RACIAL SPLITTING ?SACTU was not insisting that

affiliated Unions which were re­gistered should de-register and become "mixed" unions.

This decision it is stated, was reached, "because of the failure of the whole trade union movement to resist the Industri­al Conciliation Act".

Those registered unions which were affiliated to SACTU would "be given the opportunity to fol­low their own course of action"— to de-register, to apply for exemption or to "follow a policy of splitting unions into white and non-white workers".

VOL.5 - HO.4 4. 4.1950

NEW UNIONS'|New Unions established with

members who are employees as de­fined in the Act should not re­gister under the Act, but oper­ate with a mixed membership, in­cluding Africans."

SACTU would "work for the even­tual de-registration of the regis­tered unions by:-

Establishing multi-racial federations of trade unions; Concluding private agreements with employers outside the In­dustrial Conciliation Act; Cam­paigning consistently against the Industrial Conciliation Act and demanding its repeal".Nowhere is there any mention

made of building non-racial trade unions open to all South Africans. The special conference re-itarated its stand on the policy of "multi-racial1 unions.

"IM T£ f/JGPJ<£R.S JN JVQNNNQRLUNIONS"AT THE J0HAN1TESBURG NATIONAL WORKERS CONFERENCE ON SUNDAY MARCH THE 16TH, 1958, MISS HAZEL RUITERS, SECRETARY OP THE S.A. FYROTECHNICAL WORKERS' UNION AND THE MEAT WORKERS' UNION ORGANISING COMMITTEE, SAID THAT HER TV/O ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTED THE DEMAND FOR £1 A DAY.

NON-RACIAL UNIONS"But if we are serious about our demands for higher

wages and improved working conditions it will be necess­ary for all workers to be united in non-racial unions."She demanded that all apartheid in the trade union move­ment be"scrapped". There would be no worker unity as long as workers are separately organised into "African", "Coloured", "V/hite" and "Indian" unions. "Every union in every industry must be open to every worker. As long as the workers are divided in racial unions it will not be possible for us to realise our demands."

REJECTS "RACIAL" LABELS"In the interests of worker unity we must turn our

backs on I.C, Act registration and have nothing to do with the racialist I.C. Act itself." Hiss Ruiters at­tacked those trade unionists and trade union federa­tions who were working the I.C. Act by dividing their unions on "raoial" lines and thus dividing and weakening the trade union movement. She also called upon the work­ers to reject all "racial" labels and to think of them­selves as men and women — citizens of South Africa."The terms ‘African1, ’Coloured', ’Indian' and ’European' are polite terms for ’Kaffir', 'Hotnot1, 'Coolie' and ’Baas’ — we must reject all inferior and superior racial status and labels."

RACIAL KRAALINGShe pointed out that the apartheid in the trade urdons

movement refleoted itself in political organisations such as the Congresses and the Anti-Cad. "People oome to these organisations to fight against apartheid and for democracy but they are then kraaled into separate racial organisations. This is not fighting apartheid. This is the way to keep it alive,"

FROM ECONOMICS TO POLITICS"In his struggle for better wages and conditions the

worker finds himself slap up against the Colour Bar. Such laws as the I.C, Act, the Group Areas and Locations Sys­tem, the Pass Laws, Job Reservation and ether apartheid legis­lation restrict the worker as a worker, and will, there­fore have to be fought by the labour movement."

Miss Ruiters pointed out that many political lessons will be learnt by the workers once they are united in non- racial trade unions to take up their economic demands."The most important lesson will be that we must turn our backs on every apartheid institution in South Africa in­cluding all elections to the bogus parliament."

THE CAPE T O M CITY COUNCIL

"LEND YOUR SUPPORT TO MY 'CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN'" WRITES MR. R.T. WILLIAMS, A FORMER COUNCIL WORKER, IN A CIRCULAR APPEALING TO "ALL HONEST AND DECENT CITIZENS TO PIC-IIT THE ROTTEN ELEMENT THAT CONTROLS THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE DETRIMENT OP THE CITY AND ITS RATEPAYERS"."CORRUPT COUNCILLORS"

He makes aome very serious allegations about persons whom he calls "the corrupt element in the City Hall".

These people "have for years sailed 'very close to the wind' and given an 'official blind eye' to the shady and crooked business 'of corrupt councillors'." — according to Mr. Williams."RATEPAYERS ROBBED"

"The excessive expenditure on most projects" was proof that,"the ratepayers of this fair city are being robbed blind by un­scrupulous councillors and officials."DETERMINED TO EIGHT

Mr, Williams states that he will not "be bought off by any methods". He is determined to continue "the fight for justice" till he has seen "the rotten element in the City Hall" replaced by an "honest and decent group who will put the City's interest and well-being before personal gain and self-interest".

He alleges that he was sacked from his job with the Council becuase like many before him he "had got to know too much about the City Hall Swindles and had to be removed",

VOL. 3 - NO.2 10. 2.1958

A CITY COUNCILLOR AT A RATEPAYERS' MEETING IS ALLEGED TO HAVE ANSWERED THE ATTACKS OF MR. R.T. WILLIAMS (A COUN­CIL WORKER) 01T HIS ALLEGATION OF A JOBS-FOR-PALS SYSTEM IN THE COUNCIL BY SAYING THAT "EVERYBODY HAS THEIR LITTLE RACKET",

Deploring this attitude of Councillors, Hr. R. T, Williams writess "I wish to point out that the rate­payers DO NOT appoint Councillors to indulge in rackets at the City Ilall, SMALL OR OTHERWISE." In his opinion such Councillors should resign and make room for honest men.

'ROTTEN SET-UP'Mr, Williams states that he has been sacked

since the appearance of his first circular attacking Council officials and Councillors alleged to have been involved in jobs-for-pals practices in the Council,

He accuses the Staff Committee of being afraid of undertaking a "complete investi­gation" of his case as this would "expose the whole ROTTEN SET-UP",His dismissal he alleges "provesthattte present

Committee system of the Cape Town City Council STINKS",

AMERICA

THE AMERICAN COlEirJJECE OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS AND THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOUR HAVE COME TOGETHER TO FORM A SINGLE FEDERATION OF 16,000,000 t/ORICERS ORGANISED IN 140 UNIONS.

TO' SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC PARTYFederation is headed, by Mr, Walter Reuther, leader

of the C.1,0, and Mr. Meany, leader of the more conser­vative A.F.L.

These two men are determined to "intensify the po­litical activities of labour" and to "free the trade union movement of the shackles forged by the political power of big business".

The new Federation will support the American Demo­cratic Party. It is considered that its support gua­rantees this party a block of 1,000,000 votes.

SOCIAL SECURITYThe Federation is demanding state social security

for the Amerioan worker on lines similar to that which operates in the British "Welfare State".

The Amerioan labour leaders who hare for a long timer w w "avoided politios" have now been driven to particijjate.It is becoming increasingly clear to the American work­er that the problem of rising unemployment — the figure has now risen to almost 4,000,000 , — the threat of" further increase in taxation and the growing fear that America is about to face one of the biggest depressions ever seen cannot be solved by leaving the political control of the oountry altogether in the hands of Ameri­can big business. Mr Walter Reuther also wants the Ame­rican State and American Industry to share the cost of introducing automation into American Industry. He wants to prevent the wholesale unemployment which the new auto­matic production methods could produce.

AN AMERICAN WORKERS' PARTYLeft wing intellectuals in America are hopeful that

when the Amerioan Labour organisation enter politics this will inevitably lead to the formation of an

independent American Workers' Party, Increasing labour unrest in Amorioa, it is felt, would place such a party in a very poweriul political position. Not only would it change the face of American politics but it would also have a progressive impact on the labour movement throughout the world and especially in the colonial and semi-colonial countries. And if it supported the demand for disarmament and the withdrawal of American troops from Europe and the East it would also greatly speed up the democratisation of Soviet Russia, China and the so-called satellite countries,

VOL.3 - NO.2 10. 2.1958

©ray are all theories, Green alone is life's

®olden tree.

m e STRUGGLE FOR INFLUENCE IN THEAT A RECENT SYMPOSIUM — "WAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM TO BE PACED BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE NEXT 20 EARS" - SPONSORED BY THE COMMITTEE OP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, "GRAVE DEDUCTIONS" l/ERE DRAWN "PROM THE PACT THAT \/IIILE AMERICANS ENJOYED UNPARALLED PROSPERITY HALF THE POPULATION OP THE V/ORLD HAS AN AVERAGE INCOME PER HEAD OF LESS THAN 100 DOLLARS A YEAR," WRITES GEORGE SWARTZ IN THE BRITISH 'SUNDAY TIMES1 OP THE 5TH OP LAST MONTH.

The solution to the problem was considered to be the pro­vision of "lavish and ungrudging aid to the underdeveloped countries of the world".

AID OR REVOLUTIONHe quotes Dr. Julian Huxleys

"I am sure that a groat deal of unrest in the world springs from this cause (the wide gap in the standard of living between the peoples of the west and the colo­nial and semi-colonial countries)

"If thejr cannot get help from the Y/'est on satisfactory terms they will turn to Russia, And if the general sense of frustration gets worse, it can only lead to revolutionary and explosive situations."He also reports Ur, Nicholas

ICaldor as having said that "the most pressing problem was the rais­ing of the living standards of "the underprivileged two-thirds of hu­manity" not only in terms of "ma­terial welfare" but of the "very survival of those political and social aims and institutionsin.wticb both America and the countries of Western Europe passionately be­lieve" .

WAITING FOR CRASHBut the latter half of Mr.

Kaldor's statement greatly irri­tates Swartzs "Yfhat the heck is thsi talk about passionate belief in the political and social aims and institutions of the West?" he asks. And replies that it expres­ses itself best in the "whole set­up" being damned "root and branch" by the intellectuals of the West.

"You can get up anywhere in the overprivileged Y/'est and rally the crowd with the crys ’Chums you are being robbed.1" He goes onto point out that "If the American economy doesn't oome to an almighty crash in the next few months, more than half the intellectuals on his side (in the Y/'est) will be bitter­ly disappointed. They're just waiting for it." • ,, ________________V O L O -ITO. 2 (10.2.58)

SOME SENSEHe boldly declares that the

governing classes in the West "have always believed that the poor must be kept poor, and no one thanks you for pointing out that they have been signally un­successful in implementing the faith.

"Can we have some sense in this matter? The system of free enterprise fastened on the un­happy people of the Vest has re­sulted in the exploitation and degradation of the masses. It is an anarchic profit mongering free-for-all designed to drive the weakest to the wall and into the gutter. It must inevitably be destroyed by its inherent con­tradictions. Close the quotation. Full stop. Start a new paragraph."

RUSSIA OR AMERICA ?He expresses, however, no ad­

miration for the political set-up and values of Russia. But warns that IGiruschev without talk of passionate belief'in-the values of Russian political institutions or lavish promises of abundant aid has been more successful than the West in the struggle for influen­ce in the colonial countries of Africa and the Middle East.

Swartz makes it clear that he considers it the duty of the West "to lend ungrudging aid to the wretched two-thirds of the world" from the overwhelmingabardancewith, which capitalism has provided it at their expense. "These people lift their eyes in torment, wait­ing for the crumbs from the rich man's table, and they're not going to wait much longer".

By implication he makes it clear that from the West such aid will have to come mainly from America.He considers that very little as­sistance can be expected from Britain.

FRANCE

FRANCE IS FACED WITH THE CHOICE OF SOCIALISM OR FASCISM AS A WAY OUT OF ITS PRESENT DIFFICULTIES. TIIIS IS REVEALED BY THE PROGRAMMES OF T'..fO HEW POLITICAL PARTIES WHICH HAVE El URGED FROM THE SERIOUS CRISIS WHICH HAS NOW BECOME WORSE BECAUSE OF GROW­ING UNEMPLOYMENT, HIGHER TAXATION, A RISING COST-OF-LIVING, THE DEVALUATION OF THE FRANC AND THE FAILURE TO CRUSH THE ALGERIAN STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION.

FASCISTSThe Patriotic Revolutionary Party, an extreme

right-wing party — described, by the French press as "fascistic", believes in strong-arm measures to save France.

"Our party's aim after coming to power is to install a free and strong executive capable of governing," Ur. Biaggi its leader told the French press.

The party made violent attacks on the French constitution at its first meeting. The Government was accused of making too many concessions in North Africa, French interests in North Africa were said to have been "undermined" by "abandoning" Tunisia-, and the Government was accused of being "indiffer­ent to the fate of Frenchmen in Algeria".

"We shall wage vrar against revolutionary wars; against the agents of treason and their accomplices," read the party resolution in support of continuing the three-yoar old struggle against the Algerian National Liberatory Movement.

HEW SOCIALIST PARTYThe new left-wing party, Union of Socialist Left,

is made up of four small left wing organisations. It is reported aa "standing midway between the Socialist Party and the Communist Party".

One of the most important points in its programme is to bring about "unity of action between all organ­isations' of the workers". It will also co-operate with non-Socialist parties of a "democratic and pro­gressive charaoter".

Other points in the programme are: Raising the living^standards of workers; respect for liberties; ending of'arbitrary police action; an Algerian set­tlement — the right of the Algerian people to de­cide for itself how and by whom it will be governod.

Its first conference will be held in May 1953.VOL.3-NO.2 10.2.1958

C l >;:] gnorance, filth and poverty are 3 the missionaries of crime.■' As long as dishonourable success VS outranks honourable effort — as

long as society bows and cringesf before the great thieves, there will be little ones, enough to fill the jails.

a--**********-:Froms THE LIBERTY OF MAN

by R»G, Ingersoll,

HUNGARY

\

"Rightist" E L U T I O N was not organised byKlghtiat . That is a lie, the revolutionaries of Budapest were oonsoious Socialist revolutionaries by no means romantic. They neither fought fol restoration nor for capitalism. These re­volts do not indicate that the intellectuals

------From-Vol . 3 - Ho . 4 Polish Letter on4. 3.1958 Intellectual

Misery in Franceby -Dionys Mascolo.

s s s s s ~

ELEMENTS"^. C01TSPIEAT0RS ^ I M ] ^

S e » o o ildr f a ? f r

and other progressive non-communists "well-known for thexr adherence to the idea of c o - e r i s C o e f X did

. p a;y a leading part in it, and who have subsequently been imprisoned, deported or driven into exile."

KHRUSCHEV'S ROLEm As^00^atfon was 8*111 further aurpx-Jaed atMr. Khrimohev* a "apparent ignorance of his own im portant and reapeofcnhle role in irlfl̂ ^ „ „ +u of events at the 20th Oo^ress". g 6 °01M" e

"Mr. Khrusohev's magnificent revelation of Sta-?n?hSp na°y " an+i thB brave Prom:i'sea he made at the 20th Congress rather "induced many people to be

ln the ‘Pleaching era of Social Democracy".Khruschev and his fellow Congresses " b y c o t :

rageously dissociating themselves from Stalini* loathesome heritage, aucceeded in savin/* the i or our of their Communist creed, at least for a whiL.n

"REVOLUTION OR COUNTER-REVOLUTION"The Hungarian Y/riters’ Association Abroad <«

tinning its "efforts to find a reasonable on the Hungarian question, instead of using the S gedy just as ammunition in the Anti-Soviet campaign*

Mr. Khruschev, in his latest visit to Hungary further confused and shocked the World Communist ’Press by ambiguously referring to the'Hungarian tragedy as the "PLevolution or Counter-Revolutior.,"

T0L.3 - NO.5------------ ------- -------- _ -2. 5.1958

NONE comes into the world with a saddle on his baok neither any booted and spurred to ride him," *

---- Richard Rumbold.

INDONESIAzxxzszssszssgssa&s.

THE PRESENT TREND OP EVENTS IN INDONESIA CLEARLY REVEAL THAT THE RE­VOLUTION WHICH STARTED AFTER WORLD WAR It LED BY THE NATIVE BOURGEOIS­IE AS REPRESENTED BY THE HATTA-SUKARNO LEADERSHIP, WAS ONLY THE FIRST STAGE IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST DUTCH IMPERIALISM. THE INITIATIVE IS NOW PASSING OUT OF TIEEIR HANDS INTO THOSE OF THE MASS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESSING THE GOVERNMENT TO COMPLETE TIIE ROOTING OUT AND DESTRUCTION OF DUTCH IMPERIALISM IN INDONESIA.

This means that, the revolution which started as a struggle for political independence is being transformed by the workers into a struggle to free the country from Imperialist economic control and finally to wrest the power from the present rulers whose economio interests are closely tied up with those of Dutch finance capital.DUTCH CONTROL INDUSTRIESThe triumph of the revolution

under Sukarno forced Dutch Imper­ialism to hand over it's political control of Indonesia — but it was allowed to continue its economic domination of the oountry. As a result of this arrangement ofIndonesia's industries (petroleum, rubber, coffee, shipping etc.) is today controlled by Dutch capital investment.

The failure, in fact the inca­pability, of the Sukarno govern­ment to nationalise the land and its resources means that for the majority of its 83 million people Indonesia is still a plantation colony in spite of its political independence.

The outcome of this state of affairs led to repeated economic crises which the government was ■unable to solve and which result­ed in a series of revolts in dif­ferent parts of the Republic.Faced with a situation which was becoming worse and wliioh threat­ened to remove it from power, the Sukarno government had no alter­native but to oontinue the strug­gle against the Dutch whose eco­nomic control of the country's industries was responsible for the bad conditions of the workers.WORKERS1 ACTION COMMITTEESAccording to reports, control

of the anti-Dutch campaign passed out of the hands of the govern­ment at one stage when "workers' aotion committees" under the lead­ership of their trade unions took

VOL. 3 ~ 1T0.1 13. 1. 1953

over two big Dutoh owned build­ings — an hotel and the head­quarters of the K.P.M., the big­gest shipping company in Indone­sia.

At the end of one week a si­zable portion of the Dutch build­ings was in the hands of the workers' groups or being turned over to government control under a council of management. These seizures were made in defiance of the Prime Minister^ orders and despite continued Cabinet orders that they cease.

G 0VE RNMENT'3 FEA RSSince the first seizure of

Dutch property by the workers' committees, the Indonesian go­vernment is reported to have started direct negotiations with Dutch firms. Workers' action committees have been excluded from these negotiations. Such action gives a clear indication of the real interests of the Sukarno government. And it must be interpreted as a sign of the government' s fears that the work­ers' committees will completely take control of Dutch business houses and banks and so start a movement for workers' control of foreign capital investments and the country's natural resources— in fact to complete the strug­gles against Dutoh Imperialism whioh the Sukarno government was incapable of doing.

Foreign political observers feel that the present unrest in Indonesia offers a golden oppor­tunity for the Indonesian Commu­nists (whose members have increa­sed to 6 million) to take over the oountry, whether the campaign against the Dutch succeeds or not.

MADAGASCAR

PROM MARCH TO AUGUST 1947, THE PEOPLE OF MADAGASCAR FOUGHT A BITTER STRUGGLE AGAINST FRENCH RULE. MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ISLAND­ERS WERE KILLED IN THE MERCILESS CRUSHING OF THE REVOLT BY THE FRENCH ARMY.

This news whrich'Tfas cleliberately kept a secret by the South African newspapers at the time, was made known for the first time about two weeks ago in a short news item whioh said that all those who had been jailed for their part in the 1947 upri­sing, had now been pardoned by the French Government. British newspapers of 1947 carried full reports of events on the island.

INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTThe movement for independence

was launched on March 29th by a political organisation which had played a leading part in the na­tional liberatory struggle — Mouvement Democratique Renovation Malgache (MDRM).

Attacks were made on large towns, military depots and railway and telegraph lines.The most serious of these at­tacks were made on the capital and railway centre Tanarive ty 12,000 islanders who attacked the army headquarters there.At a number of other places,

arms depots wore raided. The French forces beat off these at­tacks with great difficulty.

MARTIAL LAWOn April 3rd martial law was

declared in most parts of the is­land. Meanwhile bands of MDBJff fighters had fled into the forests, making guerilla, raids on railways and communications from their hide­outs and burning houses and grana­ries. Coffee and tapioca planta­tions were destroyed before the raiders were beaten off with se­rious losses. The gaols were al­so attacked and prisoners were re­leased. French officials were carried off as hostages when at­tacks were made on administrative posts.

On June 25th the Director- General of Military Affairs in the Colonial Ministry was sent out to Madagascar by the French Government with extra troops to stamp out the revolt. He warned that there would be an all out attack on the liber­atory forces unless they surrend­ered.

In spite of this threat, a se­cond attack was made on the capital by a force of several thousand H E M fighters. After this attack was

beaten off by Government forces guerilla fighting by national liberatory forces continued for some time in scattered areas.

Extra reinforoements from Franoe brought the revolt to an end at the cost of the lives of several thousand UDRM fighters.

CAUSESDocuments captured by Govern­

ment troops showed that a detail­ed plan to defeat French rule on the island had been drawn up as early as 1946 j and that the order to attack had been signed by three MDRM leaders •— all deputies in the French National Assembly.

The three leaders were arrest­ed and the MDRM was dissolved by the French Parliament.

The French Commission of En­quiry found that the causes of the revolution were due to the bad economic position on the is­land and the lack of democratic government. The then Prime Min­ister said that there was proof that the aim of the uprising was to drive out the French and re­store Madagascar to the control of the former rulers — the Hovas.

Prof. E,S. Hunger writing in the book "Africa Today" describes the revolt as "the greatest re­bellion in Africa in the 20th century".

One of the reasons why the revolt failed he writes was be­cause the Hovas living in the towns hesitated to support the countryside when the rebellion spread.

The French have not published the story of this struggle for national independence that almost succeeded.

ART

BY LANCELOT JENKINWHEN THE EOAN GROUP REJECTED THE DICTATES OF DR. I.D. DU PLESSIS AND REFUSED TO PERFORM TO APARTHEID AUDIENCES ONLY, THE IMPLICA­TION INVOLVED IIORE THAN THE LOSS OF A £1,500 GOVERNMENT GRANT. THIS REFUTATION OF APARTHEID VOICES A PROTEST WHICH STRIKES AT THE BASE OF THE ARBITRARY "RACE" GROUPING WHICH IS STIFLING ART AND CULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

But it is illogical in the one instance to reject apartheid and in the other to practise it. Eoan exists purely as a "Coloured" organisation and as such its claim to a higher cultural aspiration can only be con­strued as a sham sophistication or more bluntly a fool­ing around with human values — irrespective of the art­istic techniques aoquired in the process. In the end the art which should reflect a consummation of the high­est human values is unattainable because of its very real lack of a fundamental humanisms The acceptance of racial division is a repudiation of our common humanity.

Similar parallels exist, today, in the confines of the "Afrikaner", "Bantu" and "European" cultural vaoiiums.

This attempted development of separatist "culture" in South Africa to conform to the reactionary "raoe" le­gislation of the oppressive South African ruling class debases both oulture and the artist and thereby twists out of all recognition the common links of our integra­ted society.

From a world point of view, quite irrespective of the history and source of a particular culture, anything valid that is produced at once becomes the common proper­ty of the whole of mankind; Culture is human culture and belongs to the whole of humanity.

South Afrioan culture is a composite of diverse cultures integrated by virtue of its history and socio­economic unity. Thus any organisation purporting to be a South Afrioan oultural organisation must reject the separatist caste-like structures divoroed from and su­per-imposed on the common roots of our culture. In short cultural organisations must reject "Colouredism", "Y/hlt- ism", "Africanism" and "Indianism" and, fundamentally, the all pervasive "White" racialist patronage which en­courages separatism and parades as cultural mentor.

What is requires is the rejection of apartheid by the leading representatives of South African culture, in the first place, and its rejection, in general, by the people as a whole. This will create the conditions for a flowering of South African culture, enabling South Af­rica for the first time to make its contribution to the fuller development of world culture.

VOL.3 - NO.3 4. 3.1958

ered to the devil and must go todestruction.

Goethe

THE LATE BERTOLT BRECHT* S STATURE AS A DRAMATIST, SO LONG LOST OK THE SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC, HAS AT LAST BEEN PELT THROUGH THE EXCEL­LENT PRODUCTION OP 'THE GOOD WOMAN OP SETZUAN1 RECENTLY PRODUCED BY ROSALIE VAN DER GUCHT IN THE LITTLE THEATRE.

There is no aloofness about his plays. His characters and their lives are projected directly in prose, song and verse at the audience who are soon drawn into the spirit of the play unfolding before them. It is impossible to sit through a Brecht play and feel detached intellectually! he engages one provocatively with his remarkable characterisa­tion and profound statements.

Shen-Te is the synthesis of all good people whose de­cency is never corrupted by systems and circumstances. Re­fusing to "perish" in an over-crowded economy she insists on being "bad" in order to be good and a respectable citizen who never forgets to pay the rent. In doing good she is both successful and happy but capitalism by fixing the quantity and quality of work creates classes and prejudioos and there can be no decent relations between the haves and have-nots.Her spirit is however free and independent. Her one desire is to forget her past and to really be in love with a man whom she would marry because marriage means security and social respectability.

When she is rewarded for her kindness and considera­tion and beoomes quite a business-woman she soon finds the decaying womb of capitalism throwing up all sorts of lech­erous and pa,rasitic friends and relations who live by thiev­ing and blackmailing — even the police who for services and protection, given would not look askance at any small reward.

Shen-Te has no answer to the malpractices within the capitalist system and simply allows herself to be imposed on openly when she is not allowing her heart to rule her head.

And when the problem overwhelms her she "disappears"— she changes her identity in a final attempt to save what she has built up and to try and rid her of the parasites sucking her dry. She fails at both yet she, somehow, feels herself responsible for them. She must improve their na­tures, However, not understanding the nature of capitalism in which she engages profitably by setting up a tobacco bu­siness very near a cattle stall on the land of a wealthy and elderly admirer, she soon finds that her workers do not improve culturally. They remain the vicious uncouth rabble she tried to escape from in the guise of "her cousin, Shui-Ta".

This is not the way of escaping such a problem she rea­lises and while she grows rotund with pregnancy and prosperi­ty in the guise of Shui-Ta, the capitalist, she finds the strain of trying to please everybody is too much and that she no longer has any happiness.

Eaoh and everyone is his brother's keeper but whether people can really live in harmony with one another is a quest­ion which Brecht himself asks. He does not know whether the task at hand is to "Change human nature or the world".

It is a bit disappointing after being caught up with Brecht's arguments and reasoning to be left with his indeci­sion — with what is to be done. Por his indeed was no small intellect and understanding and the contribution he has made to clearing away all the rubbish, false values and prejudices which clutter up the development of society culturally, eco­nomically; socially and politically on the basis of classless­ness and democracy, may yet make its impact felt on society in the near future.

---- A.N.S.VOL.3 - No.4 4. 3.1958

Collection Number: AD1715

SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF RACE RELATIONS (SAIRR), 1892-1974

PUBLISHER: Collection Funder:- Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation

Publisher:- Historical Papers Research Archive

Location:- Johannesburg

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